Improvement in bee-hives



E. s. ARMSTRONG.

Improvement in Bee Hives.

. No. 121,837. Patented Dec. 12mm.

Wv'nea'aaa. int 6702071 w xamwhh I 640.066)

UNITED STATES ELVIN S. ARMSTRONG, OF JERSEYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-HIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,837, dated December12, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELVIN S. ARMSTRONG, of J erseyville, in the countyof Jersey and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved BeeHive; and I do hereby declare that the follow ing is a full and exactdescription of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawingand to the letters of reference marked there on.

This invention consists of certain details of construction ,fullydescribed hereinafter,b y means of which certain marked advantages aregained over hives of the ordinary form.

Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of my improved hive; Fig. 2, afront elevation; Fig. 3,

a reversed view of the entrance-block detached; Fig. 4, a perspectiveview of the hive with one of the sides removed; and Figs. 5, 6, and 7,views of parts detached.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willnow proceed to describe fully its construction and operation.

The general construction of the hive may be described as follows: Itconsists of an inner and outer case with a space between the two forcontaining air. The inner case, which is the hive proper, of course, isdivided into two main divisions, the lower being designed for containingthe comb-frames and the upper for holding the honey-boxes. A representsthe outer case of the hive, which is provided with a base-board, a, topboard a end boards a a, and removable sides a a. The base-board aextends outward beyond the line of the hive, and furnishes a support forthe inclined board I), upon which the bees alight. The removable sideboards are attached to the hive in a peculiar manner. The upper edge ofeach when in place rests in a groove or recess in the top board, and thelower edge consequently is made inclined and rests upon a barcorrespondingly inclined, and is held in place by means of buttons, asshown. The side-edges of the boards are protected by strips projectingfrom the end boards, as shown. The front end of the hive is providedwith a large wedge-shaped opening for the entrance of the bees. In thehoney season this is left open, but at other times, and especially whenthe bees show a disposition to rob one another, the block B, whichaccurately fits the entrance, is employed. This block is provided uponits lower side with a flange, b extending entirely about its edge,excepting at the central points 001-,- and it has also a longitudinalrib, 11 which is centrally located in the recess formed by the flange,as shown. 0 represents an auxiliary entrance, which may also be used, ifdesired, during the busy season, in connection with the main entrance. 00 represent holes for ventilation. D represents the chamber containingthe comb-frames. Its floor, which is located upon a level with the lowerbee-entrance, consists of a Wire screen, the meshes of which should betoo small to permit a bee to pass through them, but yet large enough topermit the passage of a moth. Sufficient room is left beneath the screenfor the insertion of a drawer, E, which is designed to receive the dirt,moths, and larvae that fall and accumulate in the hive, and thus permitits ready removal. This drawer is constructed with its sides turned intoward the center, as shown, by which means the escape of any moth whichmay fall into it is prevented. F represents a diaphragm, consisting of asuitable strip of metal properly bent, as shown, which is fastened tothe sides of the hive below the screen, by which means it is renderedimpossible for any moth that has fallen through the screen to return byclimbing up the sides of the hive. G G represent the comb-frames, whichare provided with a top bar, g, having its lower edge inclined upwardfrom the sides to the center, as shown, said edge also being madetriangular in form. These frames are secured in place by means of hooksg upon each side, at their lower ends, which hooks are caught into eyesor staples attached to the ends of the comb-frame chamber, as shown. Theupper ends of the comb-frames are kept sep arate from each other bymeans of projecting pins g as shown. This chamber is also provided withremovable sides, which are secured in place in the same manner as thesides of the outer case, heretofore described. The comb-frame chamber isconnected with the upper chamber, containing the honey-boxes, by meansof slotted openings, as shown. The division-board, in which theseopenings are made, is provided with a recess or other proper means ofholding a slide. Ordinarily a slide is employed having an openingcorresponding with the openings through the board; but when it isdesired to take out the honey boxes this slide is withdrawn and a blankslide without an opening is introduced in its place.

Honeyboxes having openings corresponding with the slot in thedivision-board are placed in the chambers.

By meansot' this construction described many marked ad 'antages areobtained. the removable entranee-block I; a large opening or a small oneis obtained, as may be desired. When the block is employed, the entranceto the hive is made circuitous. by which means strange bees areeftectually prevented from entering the hive, while no impediment isoffered to those helonging to it. By means of the \\ll(-.\(1't(ll alldirt and filth accumulating in the hive are permitted to fall into thedrawer, in which they are easily removed. The meshes ot' the screen aresufficiently large to permit a moth to fall through them, and, havingonce passed through, its return by crawling up the sides of the hive isetfeetually prevented by the turned edges of the drawer and by thediaphragm I. the hive are easily removed. and yet, from their peculiarconstruction when in place, they eti'ectually exclude the extremes ofheat and cold. The comb-frames are readily removed and replaced, whendesired. From their peculiar construction they are separated the properdistance apart, and it is rendered practically impossible to injure thebees while moving them. The bees ordinarily By means 01' The sides ofhave ready access to the upper chamber; but when it is desired to removethe honey-boxes the slotted slide is withdrawn and a blank slidesubstituted in its place. The object of employing a slotted slide is asfollows: The bees in passing from one compartment to the other deposit agummy substance, termed glue, about the aperture, the accumulation ofwhich would prevent the insertion of a slide; but by the employment; ofthe slotted slide, which remains in place, this glue may be cut away atany time by its Withdrawal, by which means room is left for theinsertion of its substitute.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters *atent, is

l. The diaphragm F,constructed as described, in combination with thewire-screen, as and for the-purpose set forth.

2.. The entrance-block B, provided with a central rib and circuitouspassages, as described, for the purpose set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 26th day of August, 1871.

ELVIN S. ARMSTRONG.

\Yitnesses:

JAMES A. LOCKE, M. STANLEY.

